The Entire UAE Heritage In the Size Of One Dirham

by Sophie She

The Entire UAE Heritage In the Size Of One Dirham: Meet the New Exhibition

27 Sept 2024

“Behind the Dirham,” by American artist Mason Rempfer, is yet another blasting discovery by Khawla Art Gallery. Running from September 10th to October 18th, this collection will make one’s heart melt, offering a kaleidoscope of the UAE’s life through collective symbols that will speak to one and many.

To put everything important on paper — “Behind the Dirham” is on display at Khawla Art Gallery, Building 11, Dubai Design District, from September 10th to October 18th. And you must see it with your own eyes.

Now, onto exploring. Mason Rempfer’s journey to the UAE began with curiosity and an open mind. As a foreigner, he arrived with a stereotypical understanding of the region, expecting deserts and camels, but it wasn’t long before the country’s authenticity began to unfold before him, making him fall in love with the little things so significant to all residents.

He collected 123 personal stories and visualised them in the form of tender, intimate and detailed paintings that are dear to local’s hearts. Each piece (out of 123) in the exhibition is a meticulous, dirham-sized collective memory of the lives we are all having here. Eyeglass Chocolates, Lotus cookie, Luqaimat or Areej (sorry for picking only food, I'm a foodie) — this is what makes up one’s everyday life in the UAE. Covering it all — from food, which was already mentioned, to natural treasures, buildings, and all heritage symbols from burqa’a to Majid #1077. This exhibition is not just a curated collection of pictures but a hundred and 23 personal stories that we all share as UAE residents.

Here, the decision to use the dirham as a physical dimension for the artwork is symbolic of the everyday moments that define life here. Rempfer’s art transcends conventional portrayals, moving beyond iconic landmarks and well-known symbols to focus on the smaller, often overlooked aspects of UAE life that we all love and cherish. Just like seeing the Chips Oman or that particular Laban in a blue box and craving them from time to time — it is about each and every one of us personally, as these things are connected to our time with friends or time alone. These symbols are also collectively shared and adored by our small and lovely society of the UAE, no matter the origin. The exhibition’s charm lies in its ability to resonate with a wide audience.

Rempfer’s work celebrates the UAE’s culture with genuine affection and respect. His paintings not only depict the nation’s aesthetic beauty but also evoke a sense of familiarity and belonging as if he has been a lifelong resident. The most surprising part of it is that Mason had only 6 months to complete his exploration and present the collection and this curatorial is a lovely surprise to all — the spectators and the creators.

Being the first non-MENA artist exhibited in the iconic Khawla Art Gallery, one has no questions on why the gallery decided to move forward with him. It is actually hard to believe he wasn’t born and raised here, as he selected all the emotional essentials so well.

“Bringing Mason’s work to Khawla Art Gallery was a conscious choice,” says the beautiful Rayan Hakki, the gallery’s General Manager and Exhibition Curator. Don’t forget to check out her interview here and get to know her better. “His art speaks to the shared experiences of locals and expatriates alike. It highlights the UAE’s unique ability to weave together diverse narratives, fostering a sense of community and understanding.” Indeed, “Behind the Dirham” reflects this personal exploration, capturing the essence of what it means to live and belong in the Emirates.

I was stunned by the idea and headed to the gallery to ask Rayan some questions.

— Why did you decide to go with Mason, although it as a bit unconventional for you?

— The choice of getting Mason as the first non-MENA artist is not about whether we are limited on whom to exhibit or not, but the story he tells. What we usually aim for in Khawla Art and Culture is to tell authentic stories. Maison came in with a couple of artworks; I think there were five or six artworks related to this exhibition. He told me that we should create a series focused on everything related to the UAE as a cultural hub. If you ask Mason, he will admit that coming from the US, he initially thought the UAE didn’t really have a strong cultural identity. However, he became one of the first foreigners to truly understand and appreciate the UAE’s authenticity.

So it is not just about what they produce here or what is here physically, but it is about people that live here and what they are used to doing every day — what the snacks they eat, the flora and fauna they encounter, etcetera. So, he conducted a full-on study that was very personal. It's not an encyclopaedia; it’s a collection of little stories about the UAE through the eyes of a real person. We fell in love with this idea instantly, to be honest. And every person who came here really thought that Mason was an Arab or a resident or someone who has lived here since he was born. Because he captured it so well, we were stunned at how well it spoke to us, people from the region. And that’s why, when he came, we said — okay, let’s do this.

— Which ones are your favourite pieces?

— I think something that resonates with me is the combination of the snack area [editor’s note: the exhibition is divided thematically, where one has an area about nature, snacks, heritage, roads, etcetera]. Because when we were kids, every time we went out, we went to the Baqala. We took Chips Oman, Pofaki, and then, for example, Laban or Areej — it is like the combination of a pure child’s happiness. And I also like the pomegranate, figs, and generally the fruits, because the way he drew them makes you feel that they are real and you can take a piece.

— Can you share a little bit more about the curatorial process? What is the back story?

— So, as I mentioned, he started with 5 to 6 artworks at a time, and later, he came back saying he wanted to create over a hundred. Because, you know, there are small pieces, and you can’t do just 50; you need a bit more volume to fill up the space to resonate with people. So we told him to do his research and be done with it in six months. The timing was very tight and we were afraid that he wouldn't be able to complete all of this. But he managed, and he sent us a frequent mix of the artworks, and the curatorial process actually began at the very end.

We decided to divide them by theme, as we saw the groups there — this is the flora and fauna, this is the snack, this is related to Ramadan, then we also have sea-related and the female and male customs, and many more.

But the trick is that — if you put all of them on one wall, it willl be boring, and if you spread them without the storyline, it will be hard to follow. So we divided them into themes and that is why the G Wagon piece ended up being by itself on the wall, although it is so fun and adorable [smiles].

The beautiful thing about it is that you don't expect anything from this exhibition. But then it strikes your heart, and that is why we decided to launch the books as well, because we needed to share the personal stories for all of these memories to make sense. So it is like an assemblage of personal, yet collective impressions. [editor’s note: find the amazing book with all the stories in the gallery and online here.]

In fact, Mason haven’t seen all pieces together before the exhibition and the first time we put all in one holistic story was very emotional not only for usm but for him as well.

Instagram: @khawlaartgallery

— Why did he decide to go with this particular format and size?

— You know, Mason is an artist who is mostly known as a hyper-realist. So he's very, very good with details. He started doing miniatures as this tribute to meticulousness, and he started with this collection. And the one dirham idea came to us actually after the series was completed. We were together with our art consultant Jihad when we put a dirham next to one of the pieces, and it was exactly the size of the piece. That’s how we came up with the “behind the dirham” idea. Not everything is exactly like a dirham; we have The Garden Pest and other insects, which have multiple characters in one painting. But overall, it's not just a creative title; the dirham has been here ever since. One dirham is nothing now, but it is behind the full story of the UAE. It's like behind the surface.

Everything that Mason drew is really about the details we forget about. Separately, these symbols might not make sense, but when put together, it’s a beautiful story. All these things affected him as someone who came from outside. And it's interesting as I often see how people from the MENA region decide to go global, forgetting traditional symbols and things like slothing or henna, so for us it’s something old. And for Mason, for a foreigner, these traditional things are very modern, unique, and captivating.

— What would be the main message behind the exhibition?

— You know, it is not a message; it is nostalgia. People who come here, who have lived here or who are from here — they really feel a sense of closeness to the exhibition. We don't want to send them any message; we want them to feel great. They come here, and each one can revive their own memory. Those who are new to the place can grasp what our lives are about just through a couple of paintings. Foreigners can understand that the UAE is not just a desert, camels, and horses. We all share many lovely little stories. And so we just want to break this continuous stereotype, about the UAE.

Indeed, especially after talking with Rayan, I could see that “Behind the Dirham” isn’t just an art exhibition — it is a story of one and all of us. When you will be on the spot — ask to see the book and explore the “lovely little stories” Mason put behind each piece, as they are indeed not just pieces, but small stories of his friends, himself and people he met over 6 months.

To give you a taste, for instance, Saffron Milk Cake. “When I first moved to Dubai, I quickly fell in love with milk cakes. Although various bakeries offered different flavours, it was the saffron milk cake that truly captured my heart and taste buds”. And I get him, as when I first moved to the UAE, saffron cake was something that connected me with both — my Azerbaijani heritage and my new home.

Find the book to enrich your home online here.

by Sophie She